Chapter 166: Chapter 137

The elevator ride took them down past the level where the ‘throne room’ was. Ishtar relaxed against the wall as her eyes went a little unfocused. It wasn’t a long trip, but it gave her a little time to go over some things. Most importantly she hadn’t missed that Sonya hadn’t sat down to talk with Chunhua properly yet. Still avoiding it, silly girl. She huffed out a small chuckle, drawing a look from Saleh. She ignored it and switched her thoughts to Erebus’ plan. It was solid enough but there were many variables. If the Pandora Committee sent out an international hero to the scene she would have to get directly involved. She doubted that whatever goons he managed to hire were up to the task.

I could be wrong, of course, I hope this dinner party includes them. That would make things a little easier, She mused. She reached up to rub her shoulder a little before turning her head lazily towards Mephisto. I should have dragged a briefing out of him before we went down, but I suppose there were other things to discuss. She thought absently before looking back at Saleh, Bahamut, Midas, and Earthwarden. He’d become very powerful with his father’s passing. Is he really up to the task, though? Or is it just a father’s rose-tinted lenses? She flexed her fingers, I suppose we’ll find out.

The elevator opened and they stepped out into yet another floor of the office building turned mansion. There were signs here and there that this had once been a cubicle space. The way the tiles sat on the floor and the overall positioning of the lights in the ceiling. Otherwise, though, it took on the look of a grand ballroom of sorts. Decorations were set up around the perimeter of the room while the center was occupied by a single long table. There were seven people already at the table. Only one of them Ishtar immediately recognized as Erebus who sat at the far head. He got to his feet as she, Saleh, and Mephisto entered.

“Ishtar! Welcome. Please take the far seat from myself,” He said with an inclination of his head towards the other head of the table. “Son, join me?” He gestured to a chair to his left.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

She smiled behind her mask as she gracefully strode towards the table as all eyes fell on her. A few eyes narrowed while two went wide. She stopped behind her chair and rested her hand on it as Mephisto slipped into his own chair to her immediate right. There was some mixed murmuring that she heard as clear as day. Mostly along the lines of “She’s actually real?” “I thought the PC made her up.” She smirked to herself and moved to sit down herself when one of them clicked his tongue. She glanced up and met his eyes.

The dark haired man was two seats away on her left, his hairy hands gripped around a metal cup. He stared hard at her, a frown on his face. “So the so-called queen finally shows her face,” He snorted and shrugged, “Oh wait, you’re wearing a friggin mask, how the hell are you supposed to eat with that thing on?” He asked, the water in his cup starting to boil.

She slipped into her seat calmly, crossing her legs and leaning back, “This one’s an illusion,” She said plainly and reached into it to tap her own chin, “I can eat just fine, thank you mister…?” She trailed off invitingly.

“Scald, but you can keep calling me Mister. I didn’t pick you to be in charge and I sure as hell ain’t taking orders from you, everybody knows you got Charon in your pocket and the whole ‘underworld’ you set up is just a fucked-” She blocked him out as she glanced into her hud lazily, looking him up. It took a few moments to track some information down but it was valuable. He was someone who’d caused trouble in the Styx before and got kicked out. Killed another guest. “Are you even listening to me?” He demanded.

She glanced up at Erebus who kept his composure though his eyes looked furious. She shrugged at him and he blinked once before letting out a sigh. Ishtar pointed at him and a hole formed in his head, a brief flicker of light streaking through the room between them. The man fell back in his seat and then slumped to the ground, dead. “I’m sorry I brought so much trouble to your dinner, Erebus,” She said with a sigh, resting her hands in her lap.

“None at all,” Erebus grunted with a small nod, “Apologies for the inhospitality from my guest,” He said and leaned back in his chair. He glanced to his right and gestured, a pair of men hurried over and picked up the corpse before dragging it away. “Really doesn’t matter, I’ll just redistribute his budgeted portion of the reward to the others, if that’s alright with you.”

“Don’t make a habit of it,” Ishtar said, “It’s a good way to get your men to kill one another,” She said with a sigh and looked at the remaining five assembled villains, “You wouldn’t do something so stupid, would you?” She asked pleasantly. “Ruin your employer's plan for a bit of extra money?” There was a round of quick denials and shaken heads. She chuckled behind her mask, “Wonderful! Why don’t we do introductions then, dears?” She asked and clapped her hands together, “I’ll start!” She raised her hand to her heart, “I am Ishtar, I have many abilities so there’s no point in spelling them all out,” She said before gesturing to Mephisto.

Might as well do some window shopping for abilities.

Mephisto sneered at them from his seat, “Mephisto, Ishtar’s dealmaker and agent. My words have power.”

Next to Mephisto a thin man leaning on a rather long curved sword glanced her way and inclined his head. A bead of sweat dripped down from his ash-blonde hair, “Cross,” He said coldly, “I am a blade dancer. I move fast.”

Already have it.

To Cross’ right was the most obvious attempt at replicating the western trope of gunslingers that she’d ever seen. Dark shirt with a red bandana around his neck, a cowboy hat, double belts, the works. He scratched at his thick beard and grinned a metallic smile, “Grave,” He said with a gravelly voice, “I got big iron,” He said and pat the revolver on his hip. Next to him, Saleh shifted a little uncomfortably.

I hate guns, not interested.

To her immediate left was an older looking man with cold eyes. He had the look of a monk about him, bald head and dark robes that looked like they’d been orange once. The feel of death hung around him. He inclined his head towards Ishtar with deference, “Guru,” He said with a cruel smile, “I possess a mind for war.”

A variation of enhanced intellect intended for combat, perhaps? That’s worth analyzing.

Finally, past the empty seat where Scald had been, was a woman in combat gear. She had a respirator mask on, and was eyeing Ishtar eagerly. Her violet dyed hair was pulled back into a frayed ponytail and Ishtar’s senses picked up the scent of gunpowder and the feeling of barely restrained violence. “Broadside!” The woman said eagerly, getting to her feet, she slapped her hands on the table, “I hear you’re tough! Are you? Can we test it? I haven’t shot anything I can’t blow up-”

“Broadside,” Guru said gently before slowly turning his head in her direction, “The woman just killed an epic-tier with a gesture, perhaps don’t suggest fighting her, at least until you know more?” He turned back and smiled at Ishtar, showing his teeth, “Forgive my partner, she finds challenges thrilling.”

Ishtar tittered out a laugh, “No trouble at all! I just don’t approve of unnecessary antagonism during a friendly meeting, Scald was out of line and would have been more nuisance than asset. This team is better with his departure,” She said gently, “You of all people should understand the need to establish order and deal with cancerous elements?”

Guru nodded, “Indeed. I appreciate your approach, madame.”

She grinned at him, she’d have to find an excuse to speak with him privately and shake his hand. Doing it at the table would seem a little off. Time and place. She tilted her head towards Erebus who was already in the midst of gesturing towards the various attendants who had entered the room during introductions. Food and drinks were brought out, large plates filled with food laden with spice and texture. Her stomach ached for a moment, she had forgotten to eat. Sonya loves snacking, but I prefer big meals like this, She thought. There was something about big fancy meals that just appealed to her.

It’s the villain in me, I suppose, she thought with a small chuckle before glancing up at the table as everyone looked ready to eat. A thought crossed her mind and she clapped her hands once, “Before we eat! I have a little game I’d like to play and a gift for new acquaintances. It involves food so don’t worry too much.”

“You like games?” Grave asked dubiously as Broadside leaned forward eagerly. Guru gave her an assessing look while Cross just frowned and looked longingly at his plate.

“Love them,” She said mischievously before waving her hand in front of her. Eight objects appeared. Four peaches and four large strawberries. “There are four of you here, each of you gets to pick one. Either a Peach or a Strawberry. Think of it as a way for me to learn about you.”

“Not normal fruit then,” Guru murmured.

“Peaches?” Broadside said, “Ooh like those magic peaches in that one legend thing…” She trailed off when everyone stared at her, “What? I read!”

Cross eyed the fruits, “What do they do?” He asked.

Ishtar reassessed her opinion of Broadside again as she gestured to the strawberries, “Each of the Strawberries possess powerful healing properties. I put quite a bit of oomph into them,” She said dramatically, “Each could bring a human back from the brink of death.”

“A back-up plan for the fight ahead, eh?” Grave chuckled and flicked his hat up a bit, leaning forward, “The others?”

“The peaches will restore ten years of youth,” Ishtar said softly, running her finger over one of the peaches, “No drawbacks, no catch,” She added and tilted her head and looked between the four of them, “As long as you survive the fight against August, the villains she hired, and the potential interference of outside forces like heroes,” She added with a short glance towards Erebus who rubbed his chin, grinning at the spectacle. Their gazes met and he raised his eyebrows approvingly before slipping back in his seat and pouring himself some wine. He handed a glass to his son who watched with interest, having experienced one of her ‘tests’ himself.

The four of them looked at one another for a moment as she stood there, hands out like a showman. Grave whistled and leaned back in his seat, “What’s to stop us from taking both?”

“One will disappear when the other is taken, and of course I’ll kill anyone who does anything stupid,” She said merrily, “That work for you?”

He cleared his throat, “Y-yeah.”

“A test of courage,” Cross muttered, “Are we brave enough to take the peaches? Confident that we will survive the morrow?”

“A question of arrogance,” Guru murmured, “Ten years means very little to me.”

Broadside shrugged her shoulders, “One of those peaches would put me back under age,” She said with a heavy sigh, “Not interested in going through that shit again. Who knows? If I’m not an adult anymore would I lose my abilities? Not a gamble I’m willin’ to take.”

This will also help me decide on who I’ll focus on helping if it becomes troublesome, Ishtar thought to herself, “It seems most of you already have decided,” She said, “Cross?”

“Peach,” He said gravely and took one, a strawberry disappeared.

“Peach!” Grave grunted and she tossed it over to him.

“Strawberry,” Guru murmured.

“Strawberry,” Broadside said with a wave of her hand.

The fruits were gone now, “I’d suggest waiting to indulge yourselves until after dinner, gentlemen, get some privacy,” Ishtar said as Grave brought the fruit to his mouth, “Just in case,” He lowered the fruit, considered it for a moment, and then nodded, slipping it into his coat.

“Very interesting!” Erebus barked out, “I enjoyed that a great deal. Tells a lot about a person, doesn’t it?”

Ishtar nodded and sat back down, “I learned a great deal about the people you hired today. I’m impressed, honestly. It’s a solid group,” She said and picked up her fork, “I imagine that your son will be playing the lead defensive role?”

“Yes, mistress Ishtar,” Saleh spoke up, inclining his head, “My ability is suited for creating defenses.”

“I’m sure that’s not all there is to it, but it’ll suffice for what’s coming. We have more than enough attack power here,” She said with a pleasant wave as the others started to dig in.

Broadside stuffed her face a little, chewing fast and swallowing, “So are you gonna be out on the front with us?” She asked Ishtar eagerly, “I wanna see what you can do!”

Ishtar laughed and glanced at Erebus, “The Spice King paid for my services but besides my ultimate role he hasn’t specified, I’m at your disposal to the end of this scheme, what would you like?” She asked casually, plucking a piece of perfectly cooked meat from the plate and popping it into her mouth through the illusion.

“I’d prefer it if you took an observational and support role, involve yourself only if you have to. While you are powerful, if by some happenstance someone sees you, more than just some punk heroes from the Pandora Committee might be sent in. They have a powerful teleporter at their disposal and that could cause trouble if things got out of hand,” He said flatly, “I want the heroes to threaten August, not us.”

Ishtar shrugged, “You heard him, if it comes down to it, I’ll play.”

“Light spears from the sky? Eye beams? I heard you could call lightning too!” Broadside said eagerly, “What would you do? I love these abilities and I always want to hear about them, I asked the others about theirs and-” She paused when Ishtar gave her a look and she shrank a little bit, “I uh…”

Ishtar held her gaze for a long moment, letting the pressure hang for a bit before bursting into laughter, “You’re an adorable one! I like you. No, nothing so flashy this time, I have a new trick I want to try out,” She said as she took a sip of her wine. It was delicious. “I recently acquired a pocket army and would love to see what they’re capable of,” She waved her fork at Broadside playfully, “Look forward to it. It’ll be their debut.”